The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the National Welfare Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Nkemakolam Ukandu, to pay a total of N100 million in damages to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, and Justice Peter Lifu.
Delivering the ruling on Monday, Justice Salim Ibrahim directed Ukandu to pay N50 million each to the two judges within 14 days.
The award followed an oral application filed by counsel to the judges, J.U.K. Igwe (SAN), after the court struck out Ukandu’s suit for lack of diligent prosecution.
Justice Ibrahim held that the plaintiff failed to actively pursue the case, prompting the court to dismiss the action marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1165/2026.
Ukandu had instituted the suit against the National Judicial Council, Justice Tsoho and Justice Lifu, accusing the judges of judicial bias, corruption, abuse of judicial authority and disobedience to court orders.
He had sought an order compelling the NJC to investigate the allegations.
However, the court noted that neither Ukandu nor his legal representative consistently appeared after the matter was assigned to Justice Ibrahim.
The judge had earlier warned on June 30 that the case could be dismissed if the plaintiff failed to attend subsequent proceedings.
The dispute is connected to the ongoing leadership crisis within the ADC, involving a suit filed by party member Nafiu-Bala Gombe, which is currently pending before Justice Lifu.
Gombe is seeking an order restraining the faction led by former Senate President David Mark from presenting itself as the legitimate leadership of the party.
Ukandu, who sought to be joined in that matter, alleged that Justices Tsoho and Lifu were biased and acting in favour of certain interests against the party.
In his originating application, he also challenged the decision of the Chief Judge to transfer the leadership dispute from Justice Emeka Nwite to Justice Lifu, arguing that the reassignment violated an earlier court order as well as a decision of the Supreme Court.